Modular Equipment for Chemical Process Development and Small-Scale Production in Multipurpose Plants

Small-scale, continuous-flow processes are currently discussed in the chemical industry for rapid process development and manufacturing of small product amounts. This contribution describes an equipment toolbox system for continuously operated chemical reactors consisting of microfluidic chip or plate reactors for rapid mixing, capillary or coil tube reactors for defined mixing and residence time, as well as continuously stirred tank reactors. The involved phases of the physico-chemical system determine the successfully deployed elements or modules and therefore enable the setup of a flexible multipurpose plant. The platform strategy with modules of similar flow throughput as well as temperature or pressure range allow for consistent scale-up. Several examples show the current development level, while first experiences from plant engineering indicate the implementation status and open issues.